10 most unusual sports in the world

New Delhi, Oct 27,2012: Let's have a look at the ten most unwanted sports in the world. There are sports which have been classified as unwanted :1.Birdman competitionsBirdman competitions involve human powered flying machines, usually decorated, trying to fly the greatest distance off a ramp, bridge or pier. There are also similar events called Flugtag.One of the best known and oldest birdman competitions is the International Birdman, held in Worthing, West Sussex, England. The competition is held off a pier. It was originally held in Selsey from 1971, before moving to Bognor Regis (also held off Worthing Pier in 2008-09).There is also a well known birdman rally held annually as part of the Moomba Festival in Melbourne, Australia.2.Cane Toad RaceThe cane toad was introduced to Australia in the last century to help control the cane beetle, but unfortunately the toad thrived to the detriment of local wildlife. Most people want to get rid of them, but in Northern Queensland they have found another use for them - racing. You can find a regular race each week at the Ironbar Bar and Restaurant in Port Douglas, or at the annual Maclean Cane Harvest Festival.3.Demolition DerbyThe aim of these competitions is to be the last vehicle standing, after you have rammed every other car off the track. Thousands of such events are held around the US every year. The event starts with the driver's cars lined up in a circle on a dirt field, surrounded by a four-foot high wall of mud. As the siren sounds, the cars begin crashing into each other. Helmets and seat belts must be worn, but other than that there does not seem to be other rules.4.Elephant PoloThe sport of elephant polo has been around since the British first went to India and adapted their horseback game to use elephants. The rules are very similar to horse polo, except the pitch is shorter and the riders have a trainer on board as well (called a ‘mahout') to help control the elephant. Originally a soccer ball was used, but now that has been replaced by a standard polo ball.See a video of Elephant Polo in action.5.Gurning SportGurning is apparently a word for pulling a face, and you probably are not surprised to know that there is a World Gurning Contest.Gurning competitions are thought to have originated in 1297 at the Egremont Crab Fair, in the UK, named after the crab apple, which are pretty sour.It makes sense then that as part of ‘Crab Fair' in this part of the world they hold face pulling competitions to see who can make the ugliest face.6.Hairy Back CompetitionsDo you have more hair on your back than you do on your head? Does it look like you are wearing a sweater, even when you have your shirt off? Well, this is the competition for you.Hairiest Back competitions are becoming a popular half-time battle at major sporting events, with compeitions being held all over America. Look out the rest of the world. Fittingly, the winners often are awarded laser hair removal packages.Winners are selected based on audience response. A winner during a Pistons game said he tried to add “a little bit more movement and stuff to get some excitement” to persuade the audience. So it is just not the hair.7.Straw Racing The Oxenhope Straw Race is held every summer in the Pennine village of Oxenhope, near Keighley, UK. The race was started by two men who made a bet about racing from one pub to the next carrying a bale of straw. As as often he case, an offhand remark in a pub becomes a major event.Competitors race in teams of two (male, female or mixed). The start is at the Waggon & Horses Inn. From there it is 1 mile to the Bay Horse Inn where a bale of straw is picked up. From there the course heads along 1 ½ miles up a gentle hill, via the Social Club, the Lamb Inn and the former Shoulder of Mutton, to the finish at the Dog & Gun. A pint of beer is drunk by teams at each stop.There are concessions for female competitors. Females may carry carry ½ bales if they wish, and only half-pint of beer has to be drunk by female teams.8.Two-Handed Tennis Two-handed or two-racket tennis tennis, an unusual way to play the world-wide popular game of tennis, has been introduced by Prof. Don Mueller (aka Prof. Tennis or Doctor Bones). Prof. Don Mueller teaches physics (including the “Physics of Tennis”). There is also the Two-Racket Tennis Federation in Moscow, Russia, who also call this new sport ‘Distennis'.The game is played just as the traditional tennis game is, just that each player has a racket in each hand. For those who do not have a very good backhand, this way you play with two forehands! But you do not have to limit yourself to that, you can have two backhands as well.Look out, this just may catch on.9.Wife Carrying Competition The Finish Wife Carrying Festival is held annually in Finland in early July, and requires a man to negotiate a 253.5 m course while carrying their wife on their back. The course includes various surfaces and getting through dry land and water based obstacles. The prize to the winner is a mobile phone, and more importantly they also win their wife's weight in beer!10.Apple Racing The Great Huon Apple Race: Have you ever raced an apple before? This event, held around October each year, involves launching a floating apple from the bridge at Hounville and watching it race 300 meters down the picturesque Huon River. The owner of the first apple across the line wins. The sale of apples (at $3 each) is a fund raiser for the Rotary Club of Huon Valley. Huonville is in Tasmania, Australia.